From what I gather, the KX3 bridges a gap in the market. It has higher power than the FT 817, is able to take an optional built in tuner, runs on batteries, has more filtering, does PSK, has a USB port, consumes less power on receive than the FT 817, it is portable (although I think it should be more rugged), has free firmware and it is made by a company with a good reputation.

But the key is that the KX3 bridges a gap in the market. The Icom IC 703 with it's 10 watts and the SGC 2020 with its 20 watts are no longer being made. Both sell for more now used than what they were selling for when they were closed out. For an extra $350 over the price of they are selling for used now, you can a buy new portable rig with new 'features'.

Although the Yaesu FT 817 is a great innovative rig .. (and fairly rugged) it has been out for over 10 years, the last revision was the ND I think in 2004. It is overdue for an upgrade.

Yeah, I see what you're saying, but the K2 does almost all of that, plus you get to enjoy putting it together.

I haven't seen a KX3 in person, so maybe if I did, I'd "get it." I built a K1 and loved that rig - I regret that I sold it.

...the K2 does almost all of that, plus you get to enjoy putting it together.

I haven't seen a KX3 in person, so maybe if I did, I'd "get it." I built a K1 and loved that rig - I regret that I sold it.

Interesting you say that. When I was in the market and actually wanted to get a K2, Elecraft owners almost unanimously recommended I get the KX3, despite my focus on CW. While I probably would have been proud after assembling a K2, I appreciated getting on air so much sooner, to be honest. And the tools and materials I saved by not having to assemble practically paid for the price difference between the rigs. So there. But I haven't seen a K2 operate in person, so what do I know!

There are a lot of interesting KX3 videos out there on Youtube, one guy built a carrying case for one, another shows how to assemble the KX3, another shows how to use an iPad with the KX3, there a KX3 vs a FT817, using the KX3 with LifePo4, KX3 and Buddipole, operating RTTY and CW, 200 mw QSO's with a 30 meter dipole, how to use Olivia with the KX3, operating on solar.

I work 99% CW & at one time owned both the K2 and KX3. (and my favorite KX1, which I still have). The receiver in the K2 is excellent. However, it does not have the nearly absolute level of sideband rejection and ultimate filtering for CW that the KX3 does. This is because - as you know - the KX3 derives it's demodulation and hence it's (virtual) filtering through software based, digital signal processing and the K2 is analog. Both are very fine rigs, but the performance & versatility as well as ease of packing and transport of the KX3 makes me give it the tip-o-the-hat. The K3 also a fine shortwave and utility receiver! Unfortunately, the K2 is ham bands only, with a little overlap on the ends for listening.

The new Ten Tec Rebel is only two hundred bucks, and looks like a decent entry level QRP rig. While not a kit, the owner can add a digital display, and the software is open source. I suspect more hams will be going digital, and a keyboard will replace soldering irons.

Went to the Small Wonders site today to order a rockmite only to find out he closed the business down. Website says he is talking to other vendors to continue selling them. They had several great radios so I hope someone buys the kit rights.

Went to the Small Wonders site today to order a rockmite only to find out he closed the business down. Website says he is talking to other vendors to continue selling them. They had several great radios so I hope someone buys the kit rights.

Let's hope so.

Dave is done with the kit business.He worked very hard for a long time to finally build his dreamretirement house in the mountains, and doesn't want to spendhis retirement counting tiny parts into bags and answeringinumerable emails from builders.Can you blame him?

I just feel lucky that I got to build some of his kits, the DSW-II, the White Mountain Series,Rockmites, The PSK Series, (The 20m version of which was featured on the cover of QSTand created a LOT of interest in PSK31, especially with Digipan, which came outat about the same time period.) Before Digipan, and "waterfall tuning", PSK31was a headache,

Went to the Small Wonders site today to order a rockmite only to find out he closed the business down. Website says he is talking to other vendors to continue selling them. They had several great radios so I hope someone buys the kit rights.

Wow, I hate to hear this. The Rock-Mite is one fun rig. I have had a blast with mine. I hope somebody picks it up. Thanks Dave! For all the great products and fun!

There is starting to be a list of great QRP kits now in retirement.

Rock-MiteSierraOHR 500

I know others have their favorites, those are just my favorites. We have been fortunate the past 20 years to have such a variety.

And there are still kits out there to build.

But it was hard to beat hooking up a $25 20 meter Rock-mite to a HF5B, add some xtals, and work DX with 500mW.

The word is that W1REX will be selling the Rockmite from his qrpme.com site, although when I just checked, that info was not on his site yet. It would be super if he could also start selling the SW series of transceivers.

FWIW, I've got a KX3, but I also like to build - In the past year or two I've built a couple KD1JV rigs, a Tuna Tin 2 from scratch, have started a Manhattan-style Rockmite, and have several other projects in mind. At this point, I'm personally more interested in scratch-building than kits, but can see building another kit one of these days if the mood strikes. I also really like the idea of the TenTec Rebel...and wish it was offered as a kit!

For some of us that are color blind the "bolt together" kit KX3 is a Godsend. Not is it only arguably the best QRP radio out there it is probably the best radio in its price range period. People can turn up their noses all day long that I really did not "build" the kit, I still have the best bang for the buck out there and am enjoying it right now.

There will always be a place for lower priced kits, I just can not enjoy the building process without someone else eyes and what fun would that be?

This year I added a hot air soldering station to the bench for building a Softrock Ensemble II Rx kit… Installing SMT devices is now a breeze… I hope the future of QRP kits takes advantage of SMT technology to offer more functionality in smaller packages…

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